Fluctuations in Raleigh County’s population accurately chart the rise and decline of the coal industry. In 1901, the county’s first railroad opened, and the mining boom began. By 1950, mechanization of the mining process was beginning to eat away at mining employment and, by 1960, nearly 20,000 people had left the region in search of greater job opportunity. Mining employment enjoyed a brief increase during the U.S. Energy Crisis of the late 1970s, but by the mid-1980s, recession had reasserted itself in an economy almost entirely dependent on mining. By the 1990s the completion of two interstates and an expressway had opened the region to diversified economics. The accessibility of natural resources led to notable increases in employment in tourism, service, technology, and wood products sectors. Natural beauty has attracted many new residents

Earnings by persons employed in Raleigh increased from $1,568,868* in 2006 to $1,627,543* in 2007, an increase of 3.8 percent. The 2006-2007 state change was 4.5 percent and the national change was 4.9 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1997 estimate of $1,011,868* to the 2007 estimate was 4.9 percent. The average annual growth rate for the state was 4.3 percent and for the nation was 5.4 percent.

*All income estimates with the exception of PCPI are in thousands of dollars. Regional Economic Information System Bureau of Economic Analysis (Listed are the latest numbers available

Taxes

West Virginia Sales Tax
West Virginia levies a tax of six percent per dollar on purchases. It is important to note the 3 percent tax rate does not apply to all food sales. Prepared food, soft drinks, food sold through vending machines, food sold in a heated state, or food sold with eating utensils provided by the seller will continue to be taxed at a rate of 6%.

West Virginia Income Tax
If your income range is between $0 and $10,000, your tax rate on every dollar of income earned is 3%.
If your income range is between $10,001 and $25,000, your tax rate on every dollar of income earned is 4%.
If your income range is between $25,001 and $40,000, your tax rate on every dollar of income earned is 4.5%.
If your income range is between $40,001 and $60,000, your tax rate on every dollar of income earned is 6%.
If your income range is $60,001 or over, your tax rate on every dollar of income earned is 6.5%.

Exemptions
State personal exemption is $2,000 per person. Additional exemption may be taken for surviving spouses for up to two years after the death of a spouse. Only that portion of Social Security benefits included in federal adjusted gross income is subject to state tax. Persons 65 and older receive an income exclusion of up to $8,000 annually. On joint returns, that may be as high as $16,000 if both spouses have at least $8,000 each in personal income.
Raleigh County Quick Facts